A series of videos honoring the memory of a Delaware Valley artist and furthering the work of the foundation named in his honor are being filmed at a Pennsauken-based recording studio.
“Danny’s Creative House” interviews former band mates, tour managers and aficionados of the local music scene about Danny “Rio” DeGennaro, a Bucks County singer/guitarist whose life was tragically taken in 2011. Hosted by singer/songwriter Lisa Bouchelle, the roughly 20-minute episodes retell DeGennaro’s musical life, with the occasional live performance.
The first six episodes of “Danny’s Creative House” feature DeGennaro’s former bandmates. This video series is being filmed at the 12,000-square-foot Soundplex, a large format, analog driven recording studio, located on Rudderow Ave., right off of Cove. And while guests highlight DeGennaro’s musical past, the setting for the video series bridges the future for the nonprofit organization created to keep his memory alive. John Austin Mulhern, partner at the Danny DeGennaro Foundation and president of DDF JAM Publishing, LLC and Danny DeGennaro Foundation Record Label, collaborated with George Koch, owner of The Soundplex, to see how the Foundation could partner with what has been envisioned as an up-and-coming musical hub.
“The two philosophies are almost synergistic,” Koch said. “It’s almost like a marriage made in heaven and we met at the altar.”
Koch envisions The Soundplex as a private music club for musicians, providing recording studio time, rehearsal space, a live event venue, as well as mentoring. He knew “almost instantly” that partnering with the Foundation would further that mission.
“A lot of these musicians try to do things on their own and they fail,” Koch said. “I wanted to create an environment where we can get veterans like John [Mulhern] and others to help these young musicians out.”
In turn, the Foundation’s scholarship award winners and musicians signed to the record label receive studio time and rehearsal, performance space.
“It’s not just a multiplex,” Koch said. “It’s tied to a foundation that has its roots in mentoring and music.”
“Danny’s Creative House” debuts Feb. 21 – DeGennaro’s 66th birthday – on the Danny DeGennaro Foundation’s YouTube channel. New episodes will be released every Sunday.
The Danny DeGennaro Foundation was established in 2014 to continue the legacy of Levittown native Danny DeGennaro. The Foundation strives to assist artists and musicians through mentoring opportunities, as well as live performances, video shoots, and the ability to record music. For more information, visit http://dannydegennaro.org.
